Papa's on the Housetop

Mama told Papa, "You're quiet as a mouse"
So Father climbed up on top of the house
Made a lot of whoopi, made a lot of noise
Stood up and cheered with the rest of the boys

Baby's in the cradle, made a lot of time
Sister's in the parlour trying on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messing around
And Papa's on the housetop, won't come down

The blues they come, the blues they come
Nobody knows where the old blues come from
The blues they come, the blues they go
And everybody's happy when the old blues go

Baby's in the cradle, brother's gone to town
Sister's in the parlour tryin' on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messing around
And Papa's on the housetop, won't come down

Drop down, Papa.

Hush little baby and don't you cry
The blues' gonna leave you by and by
Papa come in for the corn
Put the baby in the cradle and the blues out the door

Baby's in the cradle, brother's gone to town
Sister's in the parlour tryin' on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messin' around
And Papa's on the housetop but won't come down

Papa saw a chicken out in the yard
He picked up a rock and he hit him hard
Hit him hard? He killed him dead
Now the chicken's in the gravy and the gravy's on the bread

Baby's in the cradle, sister's gone to town
Brother's in parlour tryin' on a gown
Mama's in the kitchen messing around
And Papa's on the housetop and won't come down


-Leroy Carr 1933, from Country Blues by Geoff Bartley, 1996
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